Post by Taxigirl on Sept 26, 2005 8:59:02 GMT
soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=184529&cc=5739
Sam Parkin struck a fine brace as Ipswich recorded their first Championship victory in five games to destroy wasteful Leeds' unbeaten home record with a 2-0 win.
The £550,000 capture from Swindon was brought to Portman Road during the summer on a four-year deal to replace Darren Bent and Shefki Kuqi, and clinical strikes in either half suggested he is more than up to the task as Ipswich punished Leeds' profligacy in front of goal.
Richard Cresswell smashed a first-half penalty against the bar, before Joe Royle's side defended like demons after the restart to complete a hard-earned success made secure by Parkin's cool 70th-minute strike.
Royle could be forgiven for claiming a moral victory along with the three points. Narrow failure to reach the Premiership for the second successive season last term forced the Ipswich boss to sell Kelvin Davis, Tommy Miller, Kuqi and Bent in order to balance the books.
By stark contrast, Ken Bates' takeover in January has transformed Leeds' financial health and allowed boss Kevin Blackwell to spend significant funds on a clutch of players.
It perhaps therefore came as no surprise that Leeds began the brighter and after eight minutes, Cresswell collected the ball on the right flank and whipped in a dangerous cross.
Sito Castro inadvertently nodded the ball up in the air and Rob Hulse was first to react, planting a firm header towards goal which forced Ipswich goalkeeper Lewis Price to tip over.
Leeds failed to make the subsequent corner pay, but they should have led soon after when Eddie Lewis embarked on a strong run down the left flank.
The American winger reached the byline and cut a vicious, low cross across the face of goal, but Cresswell and Hulse were unable to connect.
Lewis began to prove a real menace and after seeing his 24th minute shot well blocked by Castro, he went even close two minutes later when his thunderous 12-yard shot rebounded back off the post.
But Ipswich then hit the hosts with a classic sucker-punch which saw them snatch a flattering lead.
Dean Bowditch broke free down the right flank before delivering a superb cross to the far post which Parkin dispatched in style.
The strike inspired Ipswich and Bowditch's wicked cross forced Stephen Crainey into a desperate lunge at the far post to avert the danger.
Leeds came back strongly and Cresswell was handed a golden opportunity to draw his side level two minutes before the break.
Shaun Derry broke strongly into the visitors' box and was felled by Ipswich skipper Jim Magilton.
Referee Mark Halsey pointed to the spot, but Leeds fans could only watch in horror as Cresswell's fiercely-struck effort cannoned off the bar to safety.
Eight minutes after the restart, Price produced an outstanding save to deny Lewis after Cresswell's flick had put the American clean through.
Leeds bombarded the visitors' penalty box after the break, but Ipswich defended superbly in the face of mounting pressure.
Cresswell and Hulse failed to engineer any meaningful goalscoring opportunities, but Parkin showed them how to do it with 20 minutes remaining to secure the points in style.
The 24-year-old strode forward on to a loose ball and struck a cool, right-foot finish past Neil Sullivan from 12 yards to complete a hard-earned victory for the Tractor Boys.
Leeds Ipswich
1 Neil Sullivan Lewis Price 34
6 Paul Butler Jason De Vos 4
3 Stephen Crainey James McEveley 5
2 Gary Kelly Richard Naylor 6
21 Shaun Derry Luis Castro Sito 15
20 Jonathon Douglas Dean Bowditch 17
16 Gylfi Einarsson Darren Currie 10
8 Sean Gregan Owen Garvan 23
11 Eddie Lewis Kevin Horlock 11
25 Richard Cresswell Jim Magilton 7
10 Rob Hulse Sam Parkin 9
Substitutes
13 Ian Bennett Shane Supple 31
26 Matthew Kilgallon Fabian Wilnis 2
15 Frazer Richardson Jimmy Juan 19
28 Robert Blake Daniel Haynes 29
22 Ian Moore Dean McDonald 14
Substitutions
F Richardson for G Einarsson (59)
D Haynes for D Bowditch (55)
R Blake for G Kelly (72)
J Juan for D Currie (68)
I Moore for R Hulse (81)
Sam Parkin struck a fine brace as Ipswich recorded their first Championship victory in five games to destroy wasteful Leeds' unbeaten home record with a 2-0 win.
The £550,000 capture from Swindon was brought to Portman Road during the summer on a four-year deal to replace Darren Bent and Shefki Kuqi, and clinical strikes in either half suggested he is more than up to the task as Ipswich punished Leeds' profligacy in front of goal.
Richard Cresswell smashed a first-half penalty against the bar, before Joe Royle's side defended like demons after the restart to complete a hard-earned success made secure by Parkin's cool 70th-minute strike.
Royle could be forgiven for claiming a moral victory along with the three points. Narrow failure to reach the Premiership for the second successive season last term forced the Ipswich boss to sell Kelvin Davis, Tommy Miller, Kuqi and Bent in order to balance the books.
By stark contrast, Ken Bates' takeover in January has transformed Leeds' financial health and allowed boss Kevin Blackwell to spend significant funds on a clutch of players.
It perhaps therefore came as no surprise that Leeds began the brighter and after eight minutes, Cresswell collected the ball on the right flank and whipped in a dangerous cross.
Sito Castro inadvertently nodded the ball up in the air and Rob Hulse was first to react, planting a firm header towards goal which forced Ipswich goalkeeper Lewis Price to tip over.
Leeds failed to make the subsequent corner pay, but they should have led soon after when Eddie Lewis embarked on a strong run down the left flank.
The American winger reached the byline and cut a vicious, low cross across the face of goal, but Cresswell and Hulse were unable to connect.
Lewis began to prove a real menace and after seeing his 24th minute shot well blocked by Castro, he went even close two minutes later when his thunderous 12-yard shot rebounded back off the post.
But Ipswich then hit the hosts with a classic sucker-punch which saw them snatch a flattering lead.
Dean Bowditch broke free down the right flank before delivering a superb cross to the far post which Parkin dispatched in style.
The strike inspired Ipswich and Bowditch's wicked cross forced Stephen Crainey into a desperate lunge at the far post to avert the danger.
Leeds came back strongly and Cresswell was handed a golden opportunity to draw his side level two minutes before the break.
Shaun Derry broke strongly into the visitors' box and was felled by Ipswich skipper Jim Magilton.
Referee Mark Halsey pointed to the spot, but Leeds fans could only watch in horror as Cresswell's fiercely-struck effort cannoned off the bar to safety.
Eight minutes after the restart, Price produced an outstanding save to deny Lewis after Cresswell's flick had put the American clean through.
Leeds bombarded the visitors' penalty box after the break, but Ipswich defended superbly in the face of mounting pressure.
Cresswell and Hulse failed to engineer any meaningful goalscoring opportunities, but Parkin showed them how to do it with 20 minutes remaining to secure the points in style.
The 24-year-old strode forward on to a loose ball and struck a cool, right-foot finish past Neil Sullivan from 12 yards to complete a hard-earned victory for the Tractor Boys.
Leeds Ipswich
1 Neil Sullivan Lewis Price 34
6 Paul Butler Jason De Vos 4
3 Stephen Crainey James McEveley 5
2 Gary Kelly Richard Naylor 6
21 Shaun Derry Luis Castro Sito 15
20 Jonathon Douglas Dean Bowditch 17
16 Gylfi Einarsson Darren Currie 10
8 Sean Gregan Owen Garvan 23
11 Eddie Lewis Kevin Horlock 11
25 Richard Cresswell Jim Magilton 7
10 Rob Hulse Sam Parkin 9
Substitutes
13 Ian Bennett Shane Supple 31
26 Matthew Kilgallon Fabian Wilnis 2
15 Frazer Richardson Jimmy Juan 19
28 Robert Blake Daniel Haynes 29
22 Ian Moore Dean McDonald 14
Substitutions
F Richardson for G Einarsson (59)
D Haynes for D Bowditch (55)
R Blake for G Kelly (72)
J Juan for D Currie (68)
I Moore for R Hulse (81)